“Under
certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable
that
the hour dedicated to the ceremony known
as afternoon tea.”
-Henry James, Portrait of a Lady
If, in the
early 19th century, Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford hadn’t
been something of a glutton, we might never have had afternoon
tea as we have come to know it.
According to the legend, the Duchess, unable to bridge the gap
between lunch and dinner, repaired to her boudoir in the late
afternoon and commanded her servants to lay on slivers of bread
smeared with butter together with macaroons, cheesecakes, tarts,
biscuits, small cakes and other niceties. Once her repast had
been spread out before her, she proceeded to gorge herself.
Before
too long other well-bred ladies of the town, hearing of the
Duchess’ afternoon passion began to succumb to the
same temptation and, within a very short space of time, the
ritual of afternoon tea was born. By the end of the l9th
century, the habit had spread from the upper-classes to the
working-classes
and by the turn of the century, Afternoon Tea had become
one of the more solidly entrenched British customs. It flourishes
there to this very day and, within the past few years, has
inspired a similar craze among the ex-colonists on this side
of the Atlantic.
It was this growing mania and a passion for the perfect cup
of tea that led JANE WINDSOR, a transplanted Brit, to establish
ANYONE FOR TEA? CATERING, the fastest growing catering-service
in southern California.
Specializing
in unique tea parties, ANYONE FOR TEA? CATERING also caters
lunches,
brunches, cocktail parties and dinners,
Birthday Parties, Weddings, Baby Showers, Business events, Bar-Mitzvahs,
Children’s tea Parties, Anniversaries, Open Houses - you
name it.
For our
tea parties we provide beautiful antique bone china tea paraphernalia,
one of a kind teapots (from Ms. Windsor’s
eclectic collection,) tiered cake-stands & silverware – dainty
fresh-cut sandwiches, scrumptious home made scones, savory bites,
and customized deserts -- everything required for your catered
event and we will happily arrange for any other rentals required
for your party. Ms. Windsor will be in attendance to serve you
and, when needed, provide additional staff. Included in you party
package is a CD of 1920’s & 30’s teatime music,
or we can arrange for a harpist to serenade you and your guests.We do not provide linens or furniture.
We are a
unique all-in-one service that has been nationally recognized
by publications
such as THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, ANGELENO
MAGAZINE, WOMEN’S WEAR DAILY, MALIBU MONTHLY and the BRITISH
WEEKLY.
Tea is more than a snack-filler between lunch and dinner. It
is an invitation to a leisurely and elegant past time which encourages
bonhomie and companionship. It is arguably one of civilizations
most treasured inventions; a rendezvous with close friends and
kindred spirits, and a blessed escape from the turmoil of daily
life.
